Where is Hochtannberg Pass?
Austria, europe
N/A
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through western Austria, right where the Lechquellen Mountains meet the Lech and Bregenzer Ach Valleys. You're smack-dab on the Hochtannberg Pass, which is also part of Europe's main watershed!
At the summit, you're hanging out at a cool spot with Lake Kalbele and Lake Körber nearby. This beauty of a pass lives in the western part of Austria, near the headwaters of the Bregenzerwald. Up top, there are parking lots and some buildings.
You'll be winding along the Bregenzerwaldstraße (B 200), a paved road with plenty of twists, turns, and seriously steep sections—we're talking a maximum gradient of 14%! This route is fairly long and heads west-east. Keep an eye out, because that landslide a few years back did a number on the road. Good news is, they repaired and expanded it!
The old road used to have insane hairpin bends and steep inclines. Now, they've built a whole new section that is three kilometers long, with tunnels and eight bridges. For a bit of history, check out the old pack trail that runs parallel, leading to the Lech Valley, and it's still used for hiking today.
This pass has been used since the 15th and 16th centuries. Get ready for curves, steep ramps, and gorgeous alpine views! The road is fully paved now, so it's smoother than it used to be.
One last thing: heads up, because the Hochtannberg Pass is usually closed in winter due to snow and weather conditions.
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